Lucas shoved his hands into his pockets and began walking away from the hotel. He needed to find other vampires – but he didn’t know how. Fretting over this as he walked, it occurred to him that he could always use his nose. As a general rule, or at least as far as he knew, vampires were scentless because they produced no sweat or other body odors. So maybe, if he searched for the absence of smell, he could find one.
Without being too obvious, he practiced first, just trying to process scent as it came to him. It was interesting – smelling after having gotten used to not breathing. It took some time, but eventually he came across a couple of scentless people. Rather than approach them jsut yet, however, he walked past. As he did so, one called out to him.
“Hey! You!”
He stopped, and turned to look at them, making sure they were talking to him. They gestured him over, and after a moment’s hesitation he walked over.
“You’re new, ain’t ya?” one of them asked – male, looked like your average punk. The girl with him was more normal in appearance.
“Yea.”
“Bet you’re looking for the head honcho.” Lucas nodded, being cautious.
“Well, this ain’t no Cam city no more. You a Cam vamp?”
“No.” Lucas responded as the guy nodded, took a drag from a cigarette.
“Where’s your pack?” Lucas looked lost. “I don’t have one.”
“Not Cam, no pack…what clan is you?”
“Gangrel.” he responded quietly. “You?”
“Brujah. Lookee here, you come with me, ok? I’ll show you where it’s safe to eat and whatever, ok new guy?”
“Yea…sure…” Lucas stepped into line and started following him, whose name he learned was Andy. The girl he was with was called Lisa. Andy led him to one of the smaller, run down casinos, and introduced him to a group of three others.
“This here’s my pack. Them’s Lenny, Bruce, and Kat.” Lucas nodded at each in turn, and gave a slight smile.
“Don’t mind Andy. He’s not so good with words.” spoke the one named Lenny.
“Fuck you Len. This here’s….what was your name?”
“Lucas.”
“Good to meet you, Lucas.” Lenny continued, ignoring Andy.
“He’s a new guy. Not Cam, no pack. Says he’s Gangrel.” Andy supplied.
“A lot of Gangrel are loners, Andy. You should remember that.” Lenny turned his attention to Lucas while Kat laughed and pointed at Andy and said “You done got buuuuurned.” she laughed again. Lisa rolled her eyes, and Bruce leaned against the wall, arms folded.
“What brings you to Vegas?” he asked.
“Just a weekend trip. I guess I was misinformed about this being a Camarilla city.”
“It used to be. We only took it over relatively recently. Travelling alone?”
“No, but the people I’m travelling with aren’t pack.”
“Well if I can suggest, you might want to get one. Won’t last long around here otherwise.”
“Thanks for the info. Well, I think I’ll head back to my hotel now.”
Lenny put a hand on his shoulder. “Now hold on there. Run with us for the night – we can get you back by morning.
“I’m not – ”
“Come on, it’ll be alright. Promise.”
Lucas thought for a few minutes. “Just a while. I don’t want to make it all night.”
“Great! You can join us for our rat race.”
“Rat race?”
“You’ll see. Come on.”
Lenny put his arm around Lucas and led him off – the rest of the pack followed.
~~~~
Lucas left the group mid way through the rat race. He didn’t like the concept of it, and was far from comfortable with it. He pulled out his phone and looked for directions back to the hotel, and quickly started walking back. He didn’t want to leave Mandy and Michael alone for much longer if he could help it.
Maybe I should let Vince or Brandon know things have changed hands over here.
He mulled it over, and thinking of Brandon reminded him of something Michael had mentioned earlier – that he’d propositioned Jacqueline for a relationship. He knew Jacqueline had declined, he was okay with that, and happy that she was happy.
However he wasn’t sure how to feel about Brandon’s seeking outside relationships. He knew what Brandon was, and what Brandon was into – and thought he had been fine with it. Perhaps a little jealousy was rearing it’s ugly head? He wasn’t sure. He wasn’t upset or angry – just conflicted.
Maybe it’s something I should be talking to Brandon about. I don’t think he’d want me bottling things up and keeping them from him. I don’t think anyway…
He walked into the hotel, and maneuvered through the casino to the elevator bank that would take him up to the penthouse suite. He hoped Mandy and Michael hadn’t been too bored waiting for him. When he opened the door, however, they weren’t there as far as he could tell, so he figured maybe they were shopping in the hotel or at the spa. That’s what he hoped anyway. He picked up the phone, and texted the two of them to let them know he was back – hopefully they would be shortly as well.